Undergraduate Programs at DWLC

Undergraduate Programs in the DWLC

We are the second largest Department in the College of Arts and Sciences and contribute to the realization of Howard's enterprise by offering courses in foreign languages and literatures.

The DWLC offers Majors and Minors Spanish language, cultures, and literatures, a Minor in French as well as Minors in Arabic, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Swahili.

We are constantly adapting to the global world, offering basic instruction in numerous languages and also in Amharic, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Wolof, Yoruba, and Zulu.

Efforts are underway to restore the M.A. and Ph.D. programs in French and Spanish through an interdisciplinary program in African and African Diaspora Languages, Cultures and Literatures.

Languages at DWLC

Spanish Major and Minor, French Minor

The Spanish program enhances language mastery and cross-cultural competence through a broad curriculum. The French program develops communication and cultural literacy for global engagement.

More info on Spanish

More info on French

Germanic and Slavic Languages

The Department of World Languages and Cultures invites students to broaden their horizons through minors in German and Russian, combining rigorous language study with cultural exploration that prepares graduates for global engagement.

More info on German

More info on Russian

African Languages

The Program in African Languages at Howard University offers courses in Amharic, Arabic, Swahili, Wolof, Yoruba, and Zulu.

Students can study these languages from the elementary to the advanced level, gaining valuable communication skills and cultural understanding while fulfilling the foreign language requirement at Howard.

More info on Amharic

More info on Arabic

More info on Swahili

More info on Wolof

More info on Yoruba

More info on Zulu

More info on Somali

Check out also the free courses for Amharic, Zulu and Wolof

Free courses

East Asian Languages

The Department of World Languages and Cultures at Howard University offers engaging programs in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, empowering students to develop proficiency in languages that play a vital role in today’s interconnected world.

More info on Chinese

More info on Japanese

More info on Korean

Other Romance Languages

The Portuguese and Haitian Creole programs at Howard University offer students the opportunity to explore the rich linguistic and cultural traditions of the African Diaspora. Through courses in language, literature, film, and music, students gain valuable communication skills and cultural insight that enhance their academic studies and prepare them for careers in education, business, the arts, international organizations, and public service.

More info on Portuguese and Afro-brazilian studies

More info on Haitian Creole

ESOL